Sale 1120 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 17-18 March, 2016
Category — 1925 and Later Issues (Scott 628-734)
2c White Plains Souvenir Sheet (630). Mint N.H., outstanding centering throughout, bright color, Extremely Fine Gem sheet, this was submitted to P.S.E. prior to the grading of multiples, at the time it was communicated to us that this would have graded XF-Superb 95, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate
1-1/2c Harding, Rotary (631). Three center blocks with crossed gutters and dashes, two Mint N.H., two without gum breaker ridges, large margins, Very Fine and choice, Scott Retail with no premium for the lack of gum breaker ridges
2c Carmine Lake, Ty. I (634b). Mint N.H. bottom left plate no. 19931 block of four, deep rich color of this distinctive shadeVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE PLATE BLOCK AND ONLY THE SECOND EXAMPLE WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. II (634A). Mint N.H., well-centered, wide margins, deep rich shade, Extremely Fine, a choice example, with 2001 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. II (634A). Mint N.H. with top left corner plate no. 19644 selvage, radiant color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a stamp with wonderful visual appeal, ex "Cloudrest"
2c Carmine, Ty. II (634A). Bottom left corner plate no. 19644 single, Mint N.H., Very Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. II (634A). Mint N.H., nicely centered with deep rich color, naturally occurring extraneous vertical line of printing ink in center, Very Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. II (634A). Mint N.H. vertical pair with full horizontal gutter, deep rich color, Very Fine and rare, ex "Sirron", with copy of 1995 P.F. certificate for block of four
2c Carmine, Ty. II (634A). Mint N.H. horizontal pair with vertical gutter and bottom selvage, intense shade and impression, Very Fine and choice
2c Carmine, Ty. II (634A). Mint N.H. bottom right plate no. 19747 block of four, exceptionally fresh color, top left stamp with small excess inking, Fine-Very Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. II (634A). Four Mint N.H. singles, including two with corner plate no. selvage (different plate nos.), Very Fine and choice group
2c Carmine, Ty. II (634A). Eleven singles and a vertical pair with horizontal gutter, mostly lightly hinged, one is used, including four with corner plate no. selvage, Very Fine and desirable group
2c Lake, Sullivan Expedition (657a). Mint N.H., rich distinctive color on pristine white paper, Very Fine and choice, ex Floyd, with 1998 P.F. certificate
4c Kans. Ovpt. (662). Mint N.H., wide margins and essentially perfectly centered, fresh and crisp, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $675.00)
4c Kans. Ovpt. (662). Rich color on bright white paper, impeccable centering with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $475.00), a challenging stamp with only one example grading higher
8c Kans. Ovpt. (666). Fresh color, wonderful centering with balanced margins, light machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $325.00), this is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares it
2c Lake, Ohio River (681a). Mint N.H., well-centered with wide margins, deep rich color, Extremely Fine, a rarely offered color shade, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; unpriced in SMQ)
2c Von Steuben, Carmine Lake Shade (689 var). Mint N.H., deep rich color, fresh and Very Fine, a scarce example of this rare shade, with photocopy of 2003 P.S.E. certificate as a plate block from which this originates, unlisted in Scott
2c Dark Lake & Black, Error of Color (703b). Position 34 (pencil on reverse), Mint N.H., wonderfully well-centered, far better than most we have encountered, deep rich colors in the distinctive Dark Lake shade, Extremely Fine, a choice example of this rare color variety, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
2c Dark Lake & Black, Error of Color (703b). Mint N.H. top margin plate no. 20508 and 20463 block of four, excellent centering, bold color, tiny translucent spot in left selvage and couple tiny natural gum skips (not mentioned on accompanying certificate)FINE-VERY FINE. A RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 2-CENT YORKTOWN IN THE DARK LAKE AND BLACK ERROR OF COLOR.
Only a few plate blocks are recorded. With 1991 P.F. certificate
2c Yorktown, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Vertically (703c). Block of four, top pair lightly hinged, bottom pair Mint N.H., deep rich colors, detailed impression on pristine paper, unusually choice centeringVERY FINE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE BLOCK OF THE 2-CENT YORKTOWN IMPERFORATE VERTICALLY ERROR. ONLY ONE PANE OF 50 WAS DISCOVERED.
There were two distinct printings of this issue, using different plate layouts. The first employed 100-subject plates for both the frame and vignette. However, due to problems with paper shrinkage the vignettes were difficult to align to the frame, resulting in excessive waste. The second printing was made from a 100-subject plate for the frame, but a 50-subject plate was used for printing the vignette. This allowed for greater control, thereby significantly reducing waste.
The imperforate-vertically error occurred during production from the second plate configuration. We know this because different plate numbers were used for the first and second layouts. We also know that only one pane of 50, rather than a sheet of 100, was produced with vertical rows of perforations missing, because the perforations were applied after the sheets of 100 with the frame impression were divided into panes of 50 for the second press run.
Of the pane of 50, thirty examples are located in three known large blocks, leaving only 20 examples as pairs, strips or smaller blocks such as the one offered here. Scott Retail as two pairs "in the grade of fine"
2c Lake, Olympic Winter Games (716a). Mint N.H., deep rich color on fresh paper, Very Fine, a scarce shade variety and the first example we have offered since keeping computerized records, with photocopy of 2002 P.S.E. certificate as a pair from which this originates
5c Kosciuszko, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Vertically (734a). Sheet-margin at right, lightly hinged, fresh and bright color, well-centered within wide margins, Very Fine, rare with only one pane of 100 discovered leaving only 50 pairs known, of those some have faults and four are in the unique plate block of eight